Golf

HÀ NỘI – The Asian Tour will return to Việt Nam next summer at The Bluffs Hồ Tràm Strip in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province, according to the organisers.

The tournament, to be called the Hồ Tràm Players Championship, will be held one week after The Masters Tournament, the first major competition of the year.

Meanwhile, Spain’s Sergio Garcia has confirmed that he will return to the country to defend the title he won at the tournament debut last year.

“Any time you have the opportunity to defend a Championship is a memorable occasion. I made no secret about how impressed I was with Ho Tram and The Bluffs, and the response I have had around the world about how spectacular the championship looked has been extraordinary,” Garcia, ranked No 13 in the world, was quoted as saying on asiantour.com.

“I am interested to see how the elite amateurs of Việt Nam are progressing. We met some great players, including Anthony, who I played the first two rounds with, who have a tremendous opportunity, as well as responsibility to fly the flag for Việt Nam. It is going to be great to see how these guys develop and inspire people to take up the game,” added Garcia.

The US$1.2 million showpiece will offer the richest prize purse for a full-field Asian Tour event and also receive an increase in world ranking points, given its increased ‘flagship’ status.

“The championship will be the highlight of the Asian Tour year, and we could not think of a more deserving venue and event than Hồ Tràm,” added Kyi Hla Han, Asian Tour Commissioner.

“The inaugural year not only put Ho Tram on the map, but has reinforced Vietnam’s position as a growing force in the world of golf and sports,” said Kyi Hla Han.

The Bluffs Hồ Tràm Strip was designed by two-time major champion Greg Norman and opened in November 2014.

It was recognised as ‘The World’s Best New Golf Course’ at the prestigious World Golf Awards and was recently ranked No 74 in Golf Digest’s Top 100 Greatest Golf Courses.

The championship will be broadcast around the world in over 180 countries, reaching over 740 million households, making it one of the most watched sporting events in Việt Nam’s history, according to organisers.

The Asian Tour’s new flagship event will take place from April 13 to 16, 2017. -- VNS